Prensa Latina, Havana
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US Pressuring Uruguay to Support Immunity for Military
Montevideo, Dec 10 (Prensa Latina) The US government is pressuring
Uruguay to sign an agreement of diplomatic immunity for its military,
thus preventing them from being tried at the International Penal Court,
La Republica daily informed Friday.
US Ambassador in Montevideo Martin Silverstein was the one who
transmitted US President George W. Bush's proposal to Uruguayan
President Elect Tabare Vazquez, the daily reads.
The White House intends the new Uruguayan government elect approves an
agreement that would allow diplomatic immunity for the US military
accused of human rights violations in the world, which has found strong
rejection in other regional countries.
An investment agreement signed between the governments of Bush and
former Uruguayan President Jorge Batlle, still to be approved at the
Uruguayan Parliament in February, is also worrying Washington, as the
current Uruguayan Parliament is mostly progressive.
The delicate topic of Washington's requests to Montevideo could also
be included in the agenda of the meeting that Silverstein plans to hold
with appointed Uruguayan Foreign Minister Reinaldo Gargano, who will
assume his post in March 2005.